Necromancer Julia (1)
'Even after slashing taxes so drastically, the market isn't exactly bustling.'
Vermont Territory was certainly a major city, so its market should have been large in scale. Yet compared to that scale, there were few customers and few shops, leaving it strangely quiet. With the tax burden eased, people should have had some financial breathing room. So why was this happening?
The answer was 'fear'.
Taxes had decreased for now, but no one knew when they might rise again. That fear was stifling consumption and driving people to hoard their money in safes.
'It wouldn't have been strange if the Vermont family had gone completely bankrupt.'
Even accounting for the fact that all the key figures of House Vermont had been slaughtered in the game, the territory had collapsed far too quickly. Now I understood. The domain's situation was already in such shambles that collapse could happen at any moment.
The people of Vermont Territory weren't staying because they liked it here. They simply couldn't leave. Most of them were probably living with only one thought in mind: save up enough money to buy citizenship in another territory and flee the moment they could afford it.
No matter how much I stabilized the family's finances, it would all be for nothing if the territory remained in this state. It was time to intervene.
"Silvia. When we return to the mansion, conduct a new census. Compile the number of households and a list of all residents."
"Yes. I will see to it. But why now, when the census is only conducted once every ten years...?"
"I need to push through a policy to stimulate consumption. For example... yes. We'll provide a subsidy equal to twenty percent of the amount spent within Vermont Territory. The maximum limit will be two million larks. We'll adjust the exact figures based on the census results. All costs will be covered by the funds confiscated from Leon and his gang."
"Ah...! That would certainly help restore public sentiment."
"..."
Public sentiment? They could throw that to the dogs for all I cared. First, I had to revive this dying market. Only then would Vermont Territory survive. I didn't care about my own popularity. In the most peaceful eras, people don't even know their ruler's name. I wasn't expecting praise anyway. I simply hoped my infamy would fade as quickly as possible.
'This is a massive policy injecting a full ten billion larks at once. There could be side effects. I'll need to think it through carefully.'
Of course, good intentions didn't always lead to good results. People's expectations for a policy always went awry in the most unexpected ways. For instance, the moment subsidies started being paid out, merchants might jack up their prices dramatically...
I had to consider all of that and proceed with the utmost caution.
"Without a strong domestic economy, there is no future. If I want to attract talented dark mages, I first need to change this dreary atmosphere in Vermont Territory."
"Ah, yes..."
[Evil God, 'Kali' is impressed, as if she finally understands!]
I didn't forget to give Kali her personalized explanation. Well, it wasn't entirely empty words. I didn't expect Vermont Territory to suddenly become a wonderful place to live overnight, but this was merely the first step. The first step toward my peaceful life, free from assassination threats.
'If only Irene would stop getting in the way...'
Of course, this was all assuming there was no external pressure. During her last visit, Irene had only applied a little pressure before leaving. But would she stay quiet when I implemented such a large-scale policy...?
'I really don't want to see that woman's face again.'
Just thinking about those terrifying eyes sent a chill down my spine. Still, Aslan currently held the real power in the family. Rather than playing it safe and regretting it later, wouldn't it be better to act first and regret it afterward? At the very least, I had to struggle.
"I think we've bought almost everything we need."
"Young Lord..."
"Let's go look at a sword for Charlotte."
"Wow! Really!?"
"Young Lord... What else are you planning to buy here...?"
Together with Charlotte, whose tension had shot through the roof, I headed for the blacksmith. The game had mentioned a legendary swordsmith in Vermont Territory. Someone so skilled that the kingdom watched nervously, the empire tried to court them, and the republic was on edge. That blacksmith hadn't appeared in the first chapter I'd played, but there was probably an episode where they forged a famous sword for the protagonist, tying up that loose end.
"This is getting difficult...!"
"You can do it. Believe in yourself, Silvia."
I ignored Silvia's whining from behind as she trudged along with her arms and back loaded with packages. She didn't look particularly tired. I figured she could probably carry even more.
"Guide us to the nearest blacksmith, Silvia."
"Haa. There's only one blacksmith in Vermont Territory. I'll take you there."
When we arrived, it was indeed a blacksmith large enough to make one's jaw drop. There were six blazing furnaces, and beside them stood a massive three-story shop with a splendid display case inside.
"This must be paradise for swordsmen."
"Not necessarily. Mass production means making standardized goods that appeal to the majority. At my level, I wouldn't even glance at a place like this."
"Isn't there a saying that a craftsman doesn't blame their tools?"
"I don't know which country's proverb that is, but it's complete nonsense. A craftsman does blame their tools! And quite severely!"
"..."
Maybe Silvia was just the sensitive type. I decided to go with that.
"Greetings, my lord. How may I assist you?"
"I'm looking for a sword for this child."
"A training sword, perhaps?"
"No! A real sword! A big, beautiful one like the one that knight lady has at her waist!"
"Understood, young customer. Please wait a moment."
The clerk brought over a ladder and retrieved a sword from the second-floor display. It looked quite heavy; even with his muscular build, his arms trembled as he carried it. It was a fairly large sword.
"Be careful. This is a two-handed greatsword, very heavy even for an adult. Of course, it will be difficult for you to use now, but as an investment for the future..."
"A greatsword! Just like Silvia's!"
"...?"
"So cool!"
Whoosh. Charlotte grabbed the thick greatsword with one hand and lifted it effortlessly. Her slender forearm didn't even shake, and her expression remained relaxed. The clerk's face went pale with shock.
"Silvia. I was told Charlotte had no talent."
"Yes. She has none."
"That strength isn't talent?"
"Yes. At her age, I could lift a carriage with one hand."
"..."
So talent was measured by her own standards? I never imagined she'd call someone with that kind of monstrous strength talentless. Did that mean everyone beneath her was ordinary...? I was the idiot for taking Silvia's assessment at face value.
'So she wasn't a magic knight after all?'
Was Charlotte actually a martial artist? Or a greatsword warrior? Whatever path she took, with that strength she'd easily rank in the top one percent. At this point, finding a sword perfectly suited for a magic knight didn't matter anymore.
"That one! What's that sword over there? I want to try holding that too!"
Watching Charlotte, who was clearly thrilled, made those thoughts vanish. I'd already promised to buy her one, so I couldn't take it back now. I'd just have to get her whichever one she liked.
At least, that was what I'd thought...
"This one's nice too...!"
"This one looks cool as well!"
"What should I do, mister! They're all so good I can't decide!"
"..."
This was getting complicated. If she liked them all, what was I supposed to do? Was she subtly pressuring me to buy everything? Her face looked far too innocent for that. No, this was the genuine face of someone who truly liked them all and couldn't choose.
What was certain was that there was no sword here perfectly matched to Charlotte's aptitude. According to the setting, a magic knight would know immediately when they found their match. If that wasn't happening, then perhaps Charlotte simply wasn't a magic knight.
"Pick any one. I'll only buy you a single sword."
"Uwaaah! What do I do! Which one should I choose!"
With a sigh, I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out some gold coins. Since I'd already bought the real sword Charlotte had been singing about, it was probably time to head back. Just as I turned away from Charlotte, who was still lost in thought, I spotted Julia standing there, staring blankly at the wall.
"Why are you spacing out?"
"..."
"Julia."
"Hah!?"
The moment I touched her cheek, Julia's body shot upward. She jumped at least a meter and a half just from a standing leap...?
"Didn't know you had the talent for sleeping while standing."
"I wasn't sleeping! ...yo."
"Then what were you doing?"
"I was focusing on the voices coming from over there. They were a bit quiet, so... yo."
"What voices?"
"You can hear them now too. There's an old man outside who's been shouting nonstop. Can't you hear him? ...yo?"
"I can't hear anything. What is he saying?"
"I couldn't make it out either."
"Me neither..."
Looking to the side, both Silvia and Charlotte wore bewildered expressions. It wasn't just me with poor hearing. None of us could hear it. Obviously, Julia was the only one hearing the voices of spirits. Since she hadn't awakened yet, there was no way she could understand what they meant...
"Huh? None of you can hear it? It's crystal clear. He's saying he's so wronged he could go crazy. He's cursing the king who cut off his arm and killed him. He's wailing that he wants all the swords that were taken from him back. How can you not hear that?"
"..."
In an instant, Silvia and Charlotte's mouths fell open, their faces turning deathly pale.
This kid Julia... she could hear not just spirits, but ghosts too?